Page 110 of The Thief

“Yes. The one with the neck tattoos.” She grinned to herselfand then added, “Mister Right really did appear from under my desk that day. We got married a year ago and had Enzo just after Christmas.” She turned to peer off into the distance, her hand against her forehead to shield from the sun. “We’re over there, but I can’t see them now. Isaiah was making sandcastles for Enzo, not that Enzo really knows what they are.” She tutted to herself, scanning the horizon. “Where are they? I bet Isaiah has taken Enzo for an ice cream.”

“Don’t worry,” I replied. “I can meet them when they come back.”

She nodded then turned back to me.

“How’s Ava? I bet she’s so grown up now.”

“She’s paddling in the water with her dad,” I replied, pointing to the sea.

“Her dad?” Concern swam in Abigail’s eyes, but I soon put her mind to rest.

“Not the sperm donor. God, no. He’s history. No, her adopted dad. Her real dad.” I added that last part because I didn’t want to emphasis adopted. Yes, it was her adoption day, but he was more than that. He was her daddy.

“Oh, I love that. I’m so happy for you.” Abigail’s eyes brimmed with tears. She’d always been such a caring, empathetic person. I was glad I’d seen her today. I wouldn’t let our friendship fizzle out again.

I grabbed her for another hug. “It’s so lovely to see you. I mean it. I’ve missed you, Abs.”

“I missed you too,” she whispered, squeezing me tightly before she let go.

“We need to arrange to meet up,” I stated. “Ava would love a playdate with Enzo.” I turned to look at Liv. “Maybe Poppycould come too?”

“Poppy loves playdates,” Liv stated.

“Then it’s a date,” I said, smiling.

“It is. Have you still got my number? I haven’t changed it,” Abigail asked.

“I do have your number, and I promise I will use it. We’ll do lunch next week. Is that okay?”

“Perfect.” She smiled then became distracted again, trying to look for Isaiah and Enzo amongst the sea of bodies on the sand.

“Go and find your boys,” I told her. “I’ll come over and meet them in a bit.”

She nodded. “Okay. Speak later?”

“Definitely.”

I watched her walk away across the sand.

“She seems nice,” Liv said.

“She is. I’m so happy she’s settled down. She always had the worst luck with men.”

“We all have to kiss a few frogs,” Liv mused, and I agreed, sinking back onto the blanket.

We chatted and enjoyed the sun for hours. Ava and the dogs ran like crazy across the sand, and we all agreed that the three of them would sleep well that night. I never did get to meet Abigail’s husband and baby. When I searched the beach, I couldn’t find her. I figured they’d left early, but I vowed I’d call her and arrange that lunch with her.

Tyler draped his jacket around my shoulders as the sun began to set and the air turned a little chilly. We all stared off into the horizon as the sun painted the sky in hues of orange, reds, and yellows, the sand glittering around us, and I strokedmy fingers through the grains, feeling totally and utterly at peace with the world.

“When we get back to the house, there’s an email I want to show you,” Adam announced to the others.

“No business talk,” Liv snapped. “This is Tyler, Jess, and Ava’s day.”

Ava had come to sit on the blanket at my feet, and she yawned as Tyson lay right next to her.

“I know that,” Adam replied. “But this is a job I know they’ll want to see.”

“A job?” Tyler cocked his brow. “As in, that kind of job?”